Universal cutting machine



Nov. 7, 1944.

H. E. PRUITT UNIVERSAL CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug 21, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l ggwwwkw HEPr uz'ZZ 1944- H. E. 'PRUITT UNIVERSAL CUTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Au 21, 1942 HEPruz'ZZ Patented Nov. 7, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL CUTTING MACHINE Harvey E. Pruitt,Flint, Micln, assignor, by mcs ne assignments, to Emery M. Rice, Hanna, Ind.

ApplicationAugust 21, 1942, Serial No. 455,664

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for cutting a bar of steel or other metal int-o predetermined lengths.

object of this invention is :to provide a bar cutting machine for making multiple cuts through the bar to thereby out multiple pieces therefrom in .a single operation.

Another object or this invention. is to provide in a machine of this kind an improved automatically operable clamping means for holding the bar during the cutting operation, the clamping means being :so :onnstrncted as to grip the bar between the cutters so that any variation in the diameters of the cutters, which will result in certain portions of the bar being cut entirely through before the otherportions, will not cause the bar to become loose.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatically operable clamping means which is moved to a clamping position during the initial movement :of the cutters on the cutting cycle.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved clamping means for clamping the bar during the cutting cycle, the clamping means Jbeing so constructed as to automatically release the cut bar pieces when the cutting cycle has been completed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this kind which is simple in construction and which may have the cutting cycle performed by means of a hydraulic operator.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this 'kind wherein interchangeable clamping means may be used for varying the lengths of the bar pieces, the cutters being also spaced apart in a manner whereby the spacing may be varied to correlate with selected clamping means.

A further object of this a machine of this kind in which the work is held stationary and the cutters are moved toward and away from the work.

further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of this kind an improved means for discharging a cutting fluid onto the cutters and'the work.

With the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and .arrangement of parts as will he more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of this invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be 5':

invention is to provide resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of a cuttin machine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmenta y side elevation of the device,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of .Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 .is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-.-5of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is .a, fragmentarysectional view taken on the line .6-.B of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the 'line 1-- l of Figure 5.,

Figure v.i-l a sectional view taken on the line B-.8 .of Figure4, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line .93 of Figure l.

.Reierrlng :to the drawings, the numeral t0 idesignates generally a standard which is formed a base I] and an upright 12, the upright 12, as shown in Figure 3, being U-shaped in horizontal section and having the bight l3 thereoi forming the iront wall of the standard with the parallel legs .Hand 15 torming the opposite sides of the. standard. The bight 13 on the outer side thereof is gformed with a pair of parallel vertica-l- 1y disposed guides .I'i which are formed integral with the -high]; or from; walk-I3 and a slide gen-- 'erally design ted as 111 is adapted toslidably engage the guides 16. The slide 1'] is. formed of abod plate H! which is provided on the inner face thereof with a channel or keywey QIB within which the guides 16 are adapted to slidaibly ensa A shim 2-11 enga es one of the guides it being secured to the body 178,, as shown finiFigure 9,, fastening devicesil. The shim 2.0 is adjusted inwardly with respect to the body .18 :by means of adjusting bolts 22. The b dy .13 has formed integral therewith a horizontally disposed hearing '23 which extends forwardly from the body l8 and a spindle or cutter shaft 2! journailled through the hearing 23. "The spindle or shaft 24 has secured thereto adjacent one end of the bearing '23 "a multirile pulley '25 for "receiving a plural ity of v-shaped driving belts. A cylindrical sleeve: 26 is mounted about the spindle .or shaft :2 4 and an annular nut '21 which is formed with one or more recesses 28 for receiving a spanner wrench is threaded onto "the adjacent end of the shaft 24 so as to tighten the sleeve 26 against the pulley 25. d

An inner thrust washer or sleeve 29 is fixed by means of a transverse key pin 30 to the shaft 24 between the inner end of the pulley 25 and the adjacent end of the bearing 23. A drivin motor 3| is disposed on the rear side of the standard l2 and is provided with a base plate 32. The plate 32 at its lower portion is formed with a pair of right angularly disposed inwardly projecting ears 33 through which a supporting shaft 34 is adapted to engage. The ears 33 are disposed between the parallel legs l4 and 15, as shown in Figure 3, and the shaft or bolt 34 rockably supports the lower portion of the base 32 of the motor 38. The motor shaft 35 has secured thereto a multiple pulley 36, and a plurality of V-shaped belts 31 are trained about the two pulleys 25 and 36.

In order to provide a means whereby the belts 3'! may be kept taut, I have provided a belt tensioning means including a transversely disposed shaft or pipe 38 which is fixed between the two parallel .sides I4 and I adjacent the upper portions thereof. A rearwardly projecting bolt or arm 39 is fixed to the center of the shaft 38 and extends through an opening 46 which is formed in the base 32. A nut 4| is threaded onto the bolt or arm 39 and a spring 42 is interposed between the inner side of the base 32 and the supporting shaft 3|, engaging about the arm or bolt 39.

The opposite end portion of the shaft or spindle 24 has mounted thereon a plurality of spaced apart cutting discs 43 which are held in spaced apart relation by means of spacers 44. The cutters 43 are here shown as abrasive cutters or discs, but it will be understood that these cutters 43 may be circular saws or other circular cutting members. An inner plate 45 is fixed by means of a key pin 46 on the shaft and an outer face plate 41 is mounted on the shaft 24 and bears against the outermost of the cutting members 43. A nut 48 is threaded on the shaft 24 and may be of annular construction and provided with one or more recesses 49 for receiving a spanner wrench or the like. The widths or thicknesses of the spacers 44 determine the lengths of the pieces which are to be cut from a metal bar held in a clamping device disposed below the cutting members 43 and to be hereinafter described.

A clamping device, generally designated as 56, is disposed below the cutting members 43 and is mounted on the horizontal upper side 5| of a bracket 52. The bracket 52 has a vertical side 53 which is secured by fastening devices 54 to the outer side of the side member I 4. The clamping device 58 comprises a base plate or block 55 which is secured by fastening members 56 to the upper side of the bracket 52. The block or plate 55 is formed with a plurality of spaced apart submay readily drop downwardly into a suitable receiver. The top plate 58 extends forwardly beyond the forward edge of the base 55 and has formed integral therewith a depending stationary clamping jaw 63. The jaw 63 on its rear side has a recess 64 confronting the recess 62 so that the bar B or article which engages between the two jaws 60 and 63 will be firmly gripped in the confronting clamping surfaces or recesses 6| and 64.

The bar or rod B is supported in a tubular support 65 which is secured to a supporting bracket 66, the latter being fixed by fastening devices 61 to the upright I2. The end of the guide or support 65 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to a rearwardly projecting leg 68 of an L- shaped supporting member 69. The supporting member 69 has a forward leg 16 which extends in parallel relation to the forward side of the block 55 and is secured to the block 55 by a fastening device 1|. Preferably, a spacer 12 is interposed between the forward leg 16 and the adjacent or forward edge of the block or plate 55. The rod or bar B is adapted to be moved endwise through the tubular support 65 and is limited in its forward movement by means of an adjustable limit screw 13 which is threaded through a plate 14 secured by fastening devices 15 to the side edge of the plate or block 55. The limit screw 13 may be locked in adjusted position by means of a lock stantially square slots 51 which open through the upper side thereof and the top plate 58 is secured b fastening members 59 to the upper side of the base plate 55 and is adapted to close the guide openings or slots 51.

An elongated movable clamping member to is slidable in each slot or guide 51 and is formed at its forward end with a V-shaped recess 6|. The forward end of the movable clamping member 69 also has a rearwardly offset lower portion 62 extending downwardly from the recess 6| so that when the movable clamping member 68 is moved to a released position, the severed bar piece nut 16. The screw 13 is adapted to be disposed in axial alignment with the bar or rod B and engaged between the confronting clamping members 60 and 63.

The block or plate 55 and the cover or top plate 58 are formed with upwardly opening slots 11 within which the cutting members 43 are adapted to loosely engage when the slide member I! is lowered to a cutting position. The movable clamping members 60 are disposed between adjacent pairs of cutting slots 11 so that the movable clamping members 60 will tightly hold the bar or rod B during the cuttin operation, and after the bar or rod has been completely severed in the several positions by means of the cutting members 43.

In order to provide a means whereby the several movable clamping members may be moved to a clamping position during the initial downward movement of the slide I1, I have provided an elongated bar 18 which is pivotally supported on a pair of trunnions 19 carried by bearings 86. The bearings 89 are secured by fastening devices 8| to the horizontal bracket side 5| rearwardly of the base member 55. The elongated bar or rock member 18 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 82 through which headed adjusting bolts 83 are adapted to loosely engage. The bolts 83 are threaded into the rear ends of the movable clamping members 60, as shown in greater detail in Figure 5, and a spring 84 is disposed about the shank of each bolt 83 and interposed between the rear end of a clamping member 68 and the forward side of the pressure bar 18. The pressure bar 18 is rocked to move the movable clamping members 60 to either a clamping or released position by means of a vertically disposed elongated cam bar 85. The bar 85 is adjustably secured in a socket 86 secured by fastening devices 81 to the vertical side 88 of an L-shaped plate 89.

- tlcail'ls adjusted in the socket it byfmeans of s set screw 92 which is adapted to engage in a selected one of a series of recesses 93 which are formed in the adjacent side of the cum member 85. The com member is formedin thelower portion thereof witha cam track and the track '54 has movably mounted therein is roller 95 which is rotatsbly carried by the adjacent or inner end of the pressure bar it. The com track Mineludes an elongated vertically disposed dwell track 96, an inclined track 91 and a relatively short vertical track bill The vertical track as is parallel with the vertical track 9%, but is offset rearwardl'y therefrom so that when the roller 95 iswithin the vertical track portion 98, the movable clamping member til will be in a; released position. When the roller 95 is in the long cam track 96 the movable clamping member 60 will be in a clamping position and will be placed under tension by means of the pressure bar 18 bearing against the several-springs.

The track 36 is of sufficient length to maintain the clampin members 6b in a clampin position during substantially the 'inajor portion of the downward movement of the slide Ii, and particuto a-suita-ble source of fluid supply. The nozzle members 99, as shown in Figure 8, are each rovided adjacent theirf'orward ends with diametrical-l3 opposed jet openings 10'! through which the liquid is adapted to be discharged. The forward ends of the nozzle members r pipes 99 are prefere-bly closed so that the cutting fluid will only be dischar ed against the adjacent sides of the cutting members '48.

when the ressure bar it i rocked forwardly to a pressure applying osition for moving the movable clamping members 60, the bar 18 is also adapted to move a bar locking member I02 forweirdly to a locked position. The locking member W2 is formed with on opening "is. The locking member W2 is interposed between the tubular supporting arm to and the adjacent or inner end of the base member 55. The -locking member I02 meets with the adincent end or tubular support F5 and the arm 6 8 in tightly locking the bar B litgainst endwise movement, particularly during "the cutting operation. The locking member flli is formed with an elongated slide member I which is slidafble through a channel-shaped guide 105 secured as by fastening devices 196 to the inner end of block or base 55. The rear end of the slide orstem i9! has secured thereto a headed bolt [-01 which enga es loosely through the pressure bar 18. A spring F88 is interposed between the rear end of the slide or stem I04 and the "forward side of the pressu'rebar '1-8.

In order to provide a means whereby the slide member H may be 'VerticnI-Iy reci rooet d to an uppermost released or non-cutting position, or a lowermost cutting position, Ih'ave provided a hydrauli'c slide operating member I 09 which is fixed to the forward side of the "front wall [3. The hydraulic member its includes a, iston rod 1 lb having a head m et its upper end which is seecured by rostenine devices In to the lower end b f the slide N. The-hydraulic member-W! is adapted to be connected by means of pipes ll: and H4 to a suitable source of fluid pressure pp y. i

In the use and operatlonor this cutting me chine, the bar '13 is moved endwise through the guide member 65 with the slide member "in on uppermost non-cutting position. The bar B is moved to engage one end thereof with the adjustable limit member 13. The hydraulic operator It! may then be operated 'to lower the-slide] with the cutters I! rotating by operation oi motor 3i. As the slide it moves downwardly, the roller will rock the pressurebsr n forwordly at its upper portionthe barla rocking on the trunnions or pivot members is. The ward rockin of the pressure bar 18 is elrected by the roller 95 movln'g in'the inclined cam track in and then en aging in the vertical cam track at.

When the roller 9 is in the vertical cam track '96, the movable clamping members '60 will be tightly engaged with the bar and will 'iorce the f bar into clamping engagement with the stationary clamping member 83'. There will be cut on from the bar B as many pieces as there are cut ting members 48 mounted on the shaft 24 and when the slide 11 is moved to its lowermost posh tion, the bar will be completely severed and slide H may then be moved upwardly. Upward movemerit of the slide 11 with the cutters 48 will move the pressure bar 18 rearwardly to a pressure releasing position and to a position moving the clamping members fill rearwerdly to release the severed pieces. These severed pieces will then drop downwardly into a suitable collector or the like which may be disposed below the cutting members.

At the time the slide l1 starts downwardly to a cutting osition and the pressure bar 18 is locked forwardly, the locking member W2 will also be placed under a locking tension being moved forwardly by compression or the spring I08. This forward movement of the locking member "I02 will lock the ba'rB against endwise movement durin the cutting operation so that the bar will not be able to shift 'endwise while it is being severed by the cutting members 43.

What I claim:

l. A bar cutting machine comprising a suporting standard, e, work clampmg means car ri'ed by said support, rotary cutting means, means supporting said cutting means for movement tbward or away from said clamping means, means correlated with said cutting means and said clamping means for moving the latter to clampin position simultaneously with movement of said cutting means toward the work and means operable by movement of said cutting means toward the work prior to the eifectiveness of said clamping means for locking the Work against endwise movement.

'2. Abar cutting machine comprising a supporting standard, a work clamping can ried by said support, rotary cutting means means supporting said cutting mean for movement toward or away from said clamping means, means correlated with said cutting means and said clamping means for moving the latter to clamping positionsimultaneously with movement or said cutting means toward the work, said 'correlated mean being "so constructed and arranged as to positively move said clamping means to released position upon movement or said cutting means away from said clamping means, and means operable by movement of esai'd cutting means-toward the work prior to the 'efiectivews of said clamping means for locking the work against endwise movement. l

3. A bar cutting machine comprising a supporting standard, a workclamping means carried by said support, rotary cutting means, means supporting said cutting means for movement toward or away from said clamping means, means correlated With said cutting means and said clamping means for moving the latter to clamping position upon movement of said cutting means toward the work, said correlated means being so constructed and arranged as to positively move said clamping means to released position upon movement of said cutting means away from said clamping means, said correlated means including tensionable means for placing said clamping means under a predetermined clamping tension, and means operable by movement of said cutting means toward the work prior to the effectiveness of said clamping means for locking the work against endwise movement.

. 4. Abar cutting machine comprising a supporting standard, a work clamping means carried by said support, rotary cutting means, means supporting said cutting means for movement toward or away from said clamping means, means correlated with said cutting means and said clamping means for moving the latter to clamping position simultaneously with movement of said cutting means toward the work, tensionable means for moving said clamping means toward the work and subsequently positively moving said clamping means away from the work, and means operable by movement of said cutting means toward the work prior to the effectiveness of said clamping means for locking the work against endwise movement.

5. A bar cutting machine comprising a supporting standard, a work clamping means carried by said support, rotary cutting means, means supporting said cutting means for movement toward or away from said clamping means, means correlated with said cutting means and said clamping means for moving the latter to clamping position simultaneously with movement of said cutting means toward the work, means for moving said cutting means toward or away from the work and means operable by movement of said cutting means toward the work for locking the work prior to engagement of said clamping means with the work.

6. Abar cutting machine comprising a support ing standard, a work clamping means carried by said support, rotary cutting means, means supporting said cutting means for movement toward or away from said clamping means, means correlated with said cutting means and said cutting means and said clamping means for moving the latter to clamping position upon movement of said cutting means toward the work, and tensionable work locking means engageable with the work adjacent one end of said clamping means.

'7. In a bar cutting machine of that type including a reciprocating cutting means, a work clamping structure comprising a stationary base plate formed with spaced slots in which the cutting means is engageable, a depending stationary clamping jaw fixed to said base plate and offset from one edge thereof, said plate having spaced guide channels, a plurality of elongated movable clamping jaws in said guide channels, a common operator for said movable jaws, means supporting said operator for rocking movement, and correlated means partl carried by said operator and partly for connection with said cutting means for asqnoq moving said movable jawswith reciprocation of said cutting means.

8. In a bar cutting machine of that type including a reciprocating cutting means, a work clamping structurecomprising a stationary base plate formed with spaced slots in which the cutting means is engageable, a depending stationary clamping jaw fixed to said base plate and ofiset fro-m one edge thereof, said plate having spaced guide channels, a plurality of elongated movable clamping jaws in said guide channels, a common operator for said movable jaws, means supporting said operator for rocking movement, correlated means partly carried by said operator and partly for connection with said cutting means for moving said movable jaws with reciprocation of said cutting means, and tensionable means interposed between said operator and said movable jaws for cushioning the movement of said movable jaws in one direction.

9. A bar cutting machine comprising a reciprocatory cutting means, a bar clamping means including a stationary clamping member and a movable clamping member, and cam means carried by said cutting means for moving said movable clamping member to clamping position upon movement of said cutting means to cutting position said cam means also positively moving said movable clamping member to released position upon movement of said cutting means away from the work.

10. A bar cutting machine comprising a reciprocatory cutting means, a bar clamping means including a stationary clamping member and a movable clamping member, a rockable operator for said movable clamping member, and cam means carried by said cutting means engageable with said operator for moving said movable clamping member simultaneously with movement of said cutting means.

11. A bar cutting machine comprising a reciprocatory cutting means, a bar clamping means including a stationary clamping member and a movable clamping member, a rockable operator for said movable clamping member, springs interposed between said operator and said clamping member for placing the latter under spring tension upon movement of said operator in one direction, and cam means carried by said cutting means engageable with said operator for moving said movable clamping member simultaneously with movement of said cutting means,

12. A bar cutting machine comprising a reciprocatory cutting means, a bar clamping means including a stationary clamping member and a movable clamping member, a rockable operator for said movable clamping member, springs interposed between said operator and said clamping member for placing the latter under spring tension upon movement of said operator in a direction to shift said movable clamping member to clamping position, and cam means carried by said cutting means engageable with said operator for moving said movable clamping member simultaneously with movement of said cutting means.

13. A bar cutting machine comprising a vertically reciprocable cutting means, a horizontal bar clamping means including a stationary clamping member and a movable clamping member, tensionable means for shifting said movable clamping member to clamping position, cam means fixed relative to and movable with said cutting means for shifting said movable clamping member simultaneously with reciprocation of said cutting means said tensionable means and said cam means being so arranged and constructed as to positively move said movable clamping member to released position, and means operable by movement of said cutting means toward the work prior to the effectiveness of said clamping means for locking the work against endwise movement.

14. A bar cutting machine comprising a vertically reciprocable cutting means, a horizontal bar clamping means including a stationary clamping member and a movable clamping member, tensionable means for shifting'said movable clamping member to clamping position, and cam means fixed to said cutting means for shifting said movable clamping member simultaneously with reciprocation of said cutting means, said cam means including means for maintaining said movable clamping member in a clamping position during the period sai'd cutting means is performing the cutting operation.

15. A bar cutting machine comprising a stationary support, a reciprocable cutting means carried by said support, a bar clamping means fixed to said support including a stationary clamping member and a movable clamping member, tensionable means correlated with said cutting means and said movable clamping member for holding the latter under tension when said cutting means is moving in a cutting direction, and correlated means carried partly by said support and partly by said stationary clamping member for locking the bar against endwise movement only when the cutting means is moving in a cutting direction.

HARVEY E. PRUITT. 

